over the Boeing B-29 Superfortresses of the 24th, but began transitioning into the Boeing B-47 Stratojet by April when it received first production block of B-47Es. Along with its parent wing, the squadron deployed to RAF Fairford from June to August 1954. in 1957, Strategic Air Command (SAC) began implementing Operation Reflex. Reflex placed Stratojets and Boeing KC-97s at bases closer to the Soviet Union for 90 day periods, although individuals rotated back to home bases during unit Reflex deployments. Under this program, the squadron stood nuclear alert at RAF Brize Norton from September 1957 to January 1958. From 1958, SAC's B-47 began to assume an alert posture at their home bases, reducing the amount of time spent on alert at overseas bases. General Thomas S. Power's set an initial goal of maintaining one third of SAC’s planes on fifteen minute ground alert, fully fueled and ready for combat to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet missile strike. The alert commitment was increased to half the squadron's aircraft in 1962. The 656th became non-operational in March 1963 and was inactivated in April as the B-47 began to be phased out of SAC's inventory and Chennault Air Force Base closed. The 456th and 656th Bombardment Squadrons were consolidated as the 556th Tactical Air Support Squadron in September 1985, but the consolidated squadron has not been active. Lineage 456th Bombardment Squadron Constituted as the 456th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 19 June 1942 Activated on 4 August 1942 Redesignated 456th Bombardment Squadron, Medium in 1944 Inactivated on 26 November 1945 Redesignated 456th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 9 September 1947 Activated in the reserve on 26 September 1947 Ordered to active service 10 March 1951 Inactivated on 17 March 1951 Consolidated on 19 September 1985 with the 656th Bombardment Squadron as the 556th Tactical Air Support Squadron 556th Tactical Air Support Squadron Constituted as the 656th Bombardment Squadron, Medium in 1952 Activated on 16 January 1953 Inactivated on 15 April 1963 Consolidated on 19 September 1985 with the 456th Bombardment Squadron as the 556th Tactical Air Support Squadron Assignments 323d Bombardment Group, 4 August 1942 – 26 November 1945 323d Bombardment Group, 26 September 1947 – 17 March 1951 68th Bombardment Wing, 16 January 1953 – 15 April 1963 Stations Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina, 4 August 1942 MacDill Field, Florida, 21 August 1942 Myrtle Beach Bombing Range, South Carolina, 2 November 1942 –